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Thursday, January 3, 2008

Wow! Almost 200 comments on my last post. Maybe I should rip apart another diet plan tonight. ;)

Oh yeah - I had started to read a comment from the person who had originally written about Alli and Brooklyn jumped on my lap and it got deleted. I'm sorry. It wasn't deleted on purpose and now it's bugging me because I really wanted to read it!

Actually, I think there are a lot of good, healthy, eating plans out there. I think any number of them can work for you IF you stick to them. That's the hard part. I absolutely believe that frame of mind is the most important factor in obtaining successful results. I did Weight Watchers after I had my third child and lost about 40 pounds. I've tried it several times since and I didn't lose much of anything any of those times. The difference? I wasn't committed to it those times. Plain and simple. I don't remember where I read this before, but it was about the difference between losing weight and quitting drinking or smoking. You can quit cold turkey and stop drinking or smoking altogether. You never have to have another drop of alcohol or another cigarette. You can't do that with food. You have to eat every day to live. Can you imagine an alcoholic trying to quit and yet having to take three small drinks every day? I'm not saying that losing weight is harder than quitting drinking or smoking or anything else, but after reading that, I saw weight loss in a different light. It can be a really, really hard thing for some people.

There's no one ideal diet that works for all. I think you have to do what works for you, find what motivates you, and stick to it. (Easy for me to say, huh?)

Then there are the constant challenges. My kids love to watch The Food Network. It's killing me this week.My husband, bless his heart, offered me a cookie last night."Do you want a cookie, Hon?" he asked pleasantly.At this point, I shot laser beams of death from my eyes into his skull. It slowly dawned on him that offering me a cookie was probably not one of his better ideas.And then there are the commercials. Oh the commercials. Come to Arby's for our French dip. Have a hot, delicious cheeseburger here at McDonalds. Try our new menu at Fridays.

Seriously, is it just me or are there a million food commercials on in the evening designed to make you run to the kitchen and grab the quickest, most calorie-laden food? And speaking of commercials, why, oh why do there have to be erectile dysfunction, herpes, and other such commercials on in the evening when my kids are watching TV? My six year old was sitting next to me watching TV tonight when a tampon commercial came on."What is that, Mommy? Is that like lipstick?" she inquired.To which I answered, "Go brush your teeth, Sweetie."

90 comments:

Anonymous
said...

OMG YES! The Olive Garden and Carl's Jr. commercials used to kill me....well, they still do, but I can't have them here in Japan. Which is probably a good thing. But they have the worst kind of foods at the commisary since when do we need an entire aisle devoted to chips and candy??? anyway...I'm working on cutting down my portion size and fat content so you're not alone! MUST STAY AWAY FROM BURGER KING!!

My grandma always said to eat sensibly and stop when you feel satisfied. Most of the time, we RUSH through meals, and don't stop to really listen to our body cues trying to tell us we're satisfied (as opposed to stuffed full like at Thanksgiving).

As a parent, I find my WORST fault is that I'll stop when I'm satisfied, but then I see my toddlers plate still has something on it after he's done, and so I will eat that on the way to the sink, because, you know, we're not supposed to waste it.

I must comment about your Commercial issues. I'm in Germany on a military post. All we see is Military Commercials. No food, new movies, new toys, etc. It's actually quite nice at times. The kids don't say, "ohh can i have that?" or you don't get hungry by watching TV like you mentioned. BUT I must say, I miss Commercials. Call me crazy, but Commercials keep you current with all the new TV shows, movies, toys, the New McDonald sandwhich. lol. I miss that. So why commercials are probably bad at times, I bet you would miss them if you didn't see them for 3 years. I'm so tired of Military commercials. When your 2 year old calls every man on TV with BDU's on "Daddy", now that drives you nuts! lol.

Dawn, you're so right-on with your explanation of why weight loss is SO hard. I've been overweight for most of my life and I've often said the same thing you did-you can't quit eating cold turkey! It's so hard for people to understand who have never had weight issues.Good luck with your diet, although as Garfield always said, "Diet is Die with a T".

Hey I've found running it sucks but it works if you run enough. Now for TV things I use to not even notice now that I have two daughters one 13 I'm a dad and the stuff they show it might be the things they say or saying in a round about way Take funny home videos great show until your setting there and they show two guys behind the piano playing with hands behind there back pants to there knees it didn't show nothing but I sure felt uncomfortable.www.akiscb.blogspot.com

Ha ha... I like that part at the end. Better than my mom's standard answer of: "I'll tell you when you're older." I don't think there is a statement out that that can drive an inquisitive child crazy faster... except maybe "Because I said so."

Oh, I was gonna write in my lame blog (which I haven't found time to write) about a commercial I saw the other day for Viagra. With all 3 kids watching.....Viva Viagra. I honestly thought it was an SNL skit......with the couple in the pool with the candles and the Viva Viagra song....Unbelievable, it was like a 70's porn movie.

When you said your husband offered you a cookie, bless his heart it reminded me of something silly we do here. We stick "bless your heart" on the end of all possibly negative comments. We have decided it softens the blow. "Dad, that shirt doesn't go with those pants, bless your heart". She really shouldn't drive like that bless her heart. It has kind of become the family "line" that sometimes makes heated moments burst ito laughter.

Another really really good reason to invest in TIVO, or a DVR. You can rip right through the commercial and not have to explain to your kidlets about ED, herpes, personal products, and food commercials.

We have a standard cry of "inappropriate!" that causes our 7-year-old to immediately turn away from the tv and cover his ears... it's a sad day when we have to do that so often for commercials- what with all the erectile dysfunction ads and violent movie previews, I actually look forward to a good juicy food ad! :)-Dawn (morninglightmama)mteblog.blogspot.com

Good luck with WW! My sil did it and lost a ton of weight. I've thought about it but have yet to commit! I just wanted to tell you that I think you jinxed me!!!! I was reading about the toothfairy post a week or so back boasting to myself that I have never forgotten to play toothfairy and I just don't understand how other moms can forget one the of the most important things in their children's life (that was me being fake and smug). Anyways my daughter has lost 3 teeth in the last month and last night... the toothfairy missed our house. I now know how you felt... I felt about 2" tall when she came in my room this am saying... "she didn't take my tooth" "She didn't leave me a $1". I just said (thinks to your blog) that I bet a lot of kids lost teeth last night and she didn't have time to make it to our house and to just leave the tooth in her "tooth fairy" box and I be she'll come tonight! Amanda from IA

PS finally this weekend all the snow and Presidental canidates will be out of here for us Iowans!!!!

Dawn,I have been tempted to by alli too. It is always on a big display as you walk into the pharmacy in Wal-Mart. But yuck! I have been dieting since I had 4 boys 15 years ago and have not had a lot of weight loss. I ususally just give up and go back to my bad habits.I took Meridia last year and have had the most success ever! I lost 30 lbs in 6 months. My problem is I got in the habit of rewarding myself with food. I would eat when I got everyone in bed, which is the worst and hardest habit to break! I still can't stop myself eating after dinner! But Meridia takes away the hunger pains and helps me to stop myself. You still want to eat but once you begin eating all of a sudden you don't want to finish what is on your plate. BUT you still have to change your eating habits which I did not continue and have gained some of it back. So yes Meridia works with little side effects but you still have to change your eating habits once you are off the drug. It is expensive (my insurance wouldn't cover it), my doctor made me go for an EKG, and I had to go see him every month for the refill but still worth it!!Good luck! Lisa T.

oh Dawn, the commercials. They kill me. I've got five kids, 9yrs and younger- and they hear those commercials! The only ones worse than the sex related ones are the Santa ones. A while back Quiznos (sp?) had one that basically came out and dispelled the myth. I was steamed. Anywho- what do you suppose it would take to get commercials to be rated, with only the kid appropriate ones airing before 8pm while all the others had to wait till after bedtime? I'm guessing we don't have near enough moola to make that difference. {sigh}

On an up note- congrats on your determination. I didn't have any at all- then my best friend announced that she is engaged AND that the wedding will be in October. OCTOBER? I have 10 months to shed baby fat that took 5 pregnancies and 9 years to gain... hello motivation.

My daughter barged into the bathroom (imagine that!) a few years ago and wanted to know what I was doing with that "funny band-aid" in my underpants! Now I refer to pantyliners as funny band-aids!! = )

I am so frustrated with the commercials they air in the middle of the day during football games! It seems like every gory cop show (along with the ED drug commercials) has to advertise their next unimaginably horrific storyline while my little innocents are playing in the family room. What happened to the restrictions they used to have on daytime advertising? It bugs me that we can't watch football as a family--you'd think that would be safe programming to expose little ones to.

FUNNY! I myself have resolved year after year to lose weight and each year I seem to gain it instead. So this year my New Year's resolution is NO MORE EXCUSES! Not just in the battle of the buldge, but with everything. It is time for brutal honesty. I don't want to stop eating the things I enjoy eating, I don't want to spend hours in the gym, and I don't particularly want to take a pill that will render me homebound (or should I say bathroombound)!! So what is a person to do? I think I will take your advice and slowly, I will work on cutting down portions and start walking on that thing in the corner which currently collects everything and maybe just maybe I will lose weight or my sanity which ever comes first! ;)

About those other lovely commercials... My hubby is a pharma rep and promotes some of the drugs you mentioned. My son who was two at the time, got into some of hubby's "promotional" items, one of which just happened to be a model for doctors to practice feeling what an enlarge prostate would feel like....gross, I know...proceeded to ask "Why does Daddy have a butt in his bag?"

Having a family means you have ground beef and chicken nuggets in the freezer. It means you have chips and cookies or crackers in the pantry. And you're right, addiction & habit are very much the same in terms of breaking it no matter what the substance is. The only difference is in the speed of which the substance destroys your life & kills you. Thank god, chicken nuggets do it slowly.

As for those pill commercials - I AGREE! The Valtrex statement that bothers me is, "I'm not going to let herpes slow me down!" Well it should slow you down, at least in one department! And the ED meds - how about that one where grandpa takes the pill, starts touching up on grandma, then DING DONG! The son pops in with his wife & all the grandkids, so they have to wait until later to....take a bath next to the sea? Weird ending aside, you can't help but think "GROSS! Grandpa must have an erection the whole time he is playing with his grandkids!"

Yeah - just a couple days ago my almos 7 year old asked me what "herbies" were and how did you get them.... ACK!

And what is with the one ad -a the hubby and wife are both fat (cartoon drawn) and they start eating salads and he loses weight and her "girls" get smaller. "now we're both unhappy" she says. And it's in DAYTIME. Not "propropriate" as my kids would say.

I read your blog, don't often comment, if ever. But I do have to tell you one thing - I think it will help. I've done WW several times after having my kids and really did well. True, it's hard to bypass fast food, especially when the kids want it. But when the commercials come on for the triple-bacon-homestyle-melt or whatever, just realize that these corporations and the fast food industry doesn't care a bit about your health, your body, the fact that you want to live to see your grandchildren. All they care about is money. They invade our homes with whatever is the most tempting, hoping we'll succumb to it. And many people do. Marketing and ads have wrecked many a diet, for sure. Don't let them have that power over you. When you see an ad for something dripping with grease, just remember that they just don't care about you - they just want to get into your wallet. Just a thought.

My husband is skinny and does not get it either. I just had my 4th, 7 months ago and now weigh 180 pounds! I am trying to eat 2000 calories a day since I am nursing...You think 2000 calories is plenty, right? I am starving!!! I am only on day 4.. SO STARVING!!!! Any suggestions for a low calorie food that actually keeps you full? BTW, you always look great in your pictures. I think you are to hard on yourself. It is hard on our bodies to have so many kids, and I think you have done a great job :)

Yep, you always see a commercial for something you shouldn't eat at the time when you are the most hungry! Hate that! Good luck with whatever you decide to do just remember to exercise too and you are all set! :o)

You dodged a bullet with the tampon question! When I was little I found some and thought they were firecrackers because of the little tail that runs to the round part, I thought I could just light it and it would go boom!

OMG! I was using the t.v. as a babysitter the other day while I chanced to grab a quick nap. Just as I started to doze off, my 9 year old burst into my room and shouted, "MOM! I just saw a commercial for Dominoe's! You can get any large pizza for $10.99 with UNLIMITED toppings!" I wanted to shoot him, AND Dominoe's. And yes, I DID order the pizza for dinner...

When my brother was about four we were watching tv and saw a commercial for tampons where they soaked up blue water to show how absorbant they were. My brother's reaction was to say "cool, I want some of those." At least your son didn't ask you to buy him some tampons :)

My husband even noticed how many diet comercials there are lately! LOL!!! I have been noticing all the other food ads. LOL!!! We are both trying to loose weight. Maybe your husband needs to "diet" with you. ;)

I've also tried to follow many a diet only to have it fail. This time, I'm giving up on a restrictive "diet" and trying a different approach: more exercise. With my kiddos around most of the day, I can only grab 10 minutes here and there. But, that's what I've committed to do. 20-30 minutes a day in 10 minute chunks. I'm trying to jumpstart my metabolism. I've also started taking two helpings of vegetables at lunch and dinner, so I'm less likely to want seconds of the main dish. We'll see if it works.

My diet will work for anyone. I lost 85 lbs this way (took a year, but it was worth it).I make my plate up then- I eat only half of what I usually do and then if I'm still hungry an hour later I eat the rest. I then work on cutting down what I would normally eat...Instead of 3 oreos I eat 1 and that will kill the craving.Then the extra exercise. I park waaaayyy back in the parking lot. It makes for less stress (no fighting for the closest space) and the extra steps help out (I got a cheap pedometer to see how much I normally walk and how much I added). Then I do the cleaning workout. I listen to music and boogy while vacuuming and washing laundry (those extra shakes tone up the flabby buns) and dance my way around the house while picking up legos and race cars. Its fun, the kids can dance too and in about a month I started to notice that I felt better and so did my clothes.Good luck!

OMG-Straying from the diet plans to the inappropriate tv commercials. I saw one last night for a new advanced pregnancy test. The announcer was actually saying something about peeing on the stick and I swear to god, they had water (I assume)flowing down as if it was pee- to show you how you do it. I thought it was a spoof until I realized it was an actual commercial. I don't remember what time it was. My kids weren't watching but it couldn't have been that late b/c with 2 young kids, I am an early to bed girl. I am also not prudent but I was like Woa! The last thing my 4 y.o. son needs is an idea to pee on anything.

I am with you on the commercials!I am pretty strict about the content of the shows that I let my kids watch (they may watch too much...but they are limited on what they watch.) But the commercials!!! Why should I have to try to dodge questions about genital herpes!! How do you explain that to a 9 and 5 yr old! If they want to have those on during the adult shows fine,but at 6:30 during Wheel of Fortune???Just VentingOblivious Suburbanite

I've never liked the word DIET I believe it's just a short cut to fast results. I personally have never been on a diet or taken any supplements. But after turning 30 something a few years ago and after 4 children and eating out more often than I should have I put on some pounds that one day finally hit me, I had stopped wearing jeans and preferred wearing lose clothing. Well anyways since April after a picture I saw of myself I decided I needed to do something about it because this was going to go away by itself. I bought myself a used treadmill and began walking for about 20 to 30 minutes a day I also tempted to jog bad idea for someone who was totally out of shape this somewhat discouraged me but i had to modivate myself with the end results. This has been a challenge for me to excercise everyday, but it has become a habit which i must add is a good habit. dont get me wrong there are times i skip one day out of the week but i dont feel just as bad. And I dont go out to eat as often as i used to dont get me wrong i dont deprive myself if I'm craving a burger i go out and get one but i make sure i saver every bite. Now i am walking/joggin 40 minutes a day usually monday thru friday sometimes i miss a day or two but i am now seeing the results. i have a whole lot of energy after my excercise and i try to do it while watching the news. My suggestion to you as a mother not no professional work out person believe you me, think of it as a change of a better life for you and your family not as a diet. and when those darn commercials come on get up and walk away, grab a glass of water and image yourself a better you.

My mother tried Alli for ONE day. She drives a public transportation bus for the City and she called me in a panic and said "I can not take that pill....I have the Sh**'s, I can't go to the bathroom, there aren't bathrooms on buses." I thought I was going to lose it in laughter. I love seeing those commercials on TV for Alli and the girls are working out and running, and all I hear for the background music is farts and squirts. They should revamp the commercial with the girls in a public bathroom with their business suits on sitting on their toilets with their laptops smiling and saying to the camera...You can do this too, take Alli and you can change your life, one crap at a time. CHEERS!!!

I have been laughing for a few years now about the Herpes commercials. I mean who walks around with a HUGE grin on their face saying I am so proud I have Herpes and gleaming their bright white teeth at you? All I am waiting on is this big nasty thing to come out of their face and yells RAW COME AND GET ME YOU CAN HAVE ME LIVING IN YOU TOO...FOREVER!!!!

I just started Weight Watchers and all I see these days is food around every corner that I am unable to eat because it has a big point written on its back. When I sleep I see Twinkies dancing with ding dongs. I am positive this will end; it's just the fight between mind and mouth. I can do this weight lose program because I WANT it so bad. But I have to look at it as A LIFE CHANGE not a DIET....plus i'd rather do this than sit on the toilet all day!!!

Actually yes - starting around 5PM or so (when people are just arriving home from work or thinking about cooking dinner) advertisements for food begin playing. They play until around 9PMish. I also find it distracting, and I'm NOT on a diet!

Wow. Your post makes me soooo glad we don't have a TV. Well, we have an actual TV but no cable or antenna - only a DVD player. We just went back on the South Beach Diet, and I'm not sure I could stand being bombarded with food ads. Good luck with Weight Watchers.

the comercials are killers i like a million others are trying to modify my lifestyle (diet) and the comercials are the worst influence in the world ... and you are right in some ways changing eating habits is harder than quitting drinking or smoking as you pointed out i can live without ever drinking and smoking but you have to eat to live. just doesnt seem fair.

It wasn't until my husband had gastric bypass 6 weeks ago that we noticed how many food commercials there are, and we realized this while sitting in his hospital room after his surgery. Thankfully, we don't have cable anymore so there is a huge cut back in food commercials. Although, driving past a McD's, a BK, a KFC or a Jack in the Box anytime you go to any store, not to mention Krispy Kreme, there is NO escaping them with their posters in the windows, not to mention their new sandwiches advertised on their reader boards.

Glad you shared the bit about Alli, I had seen it in the stores and was wondering what it was. Um, big huge duh--it says to eat a low fat diet...if a person did that they wouldn't need their pill. Go figure.

I saw my husband with a White Castle cup the other day and berated him for not bringing me any. He said he didn't call and see if I wanted any because he knew that I would say yes, but that I was also trying to eat better and lose a few pounds and he didn't want to contribute to my delinquency. I had to forgive him. Have you tried the Hungry Girl website? Quite a great resource on healthy eating.

Oh, I just HATE those Bob commercials. They drive me crazy and I don't even know why, I just want to shoot the guy. So, I was thinking of doing a Bob look alike contest...Just tell yourself all that food looks really good, but it really tastes super nasty! Oh, maybe self hypnosis? You can give yourself sub conscious suggestions like that.

We had a discussion about this exact thing at my Weight Watchers meeting a few weeks ago. Everyone agreed that loosing weight was the HARDEST thing you will ever do because you have to eat (at least something) every day. Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going.

being pregnant didn't help with eating patterns either...it's almost embarassing how much food I could put away when I was pregnant. Trying to stop 9 months of a bad eating habit was hard!...and exactly for the same reason you stated...we can't live without food.

Here's an idea to get your kids off the Food Network. Just quietly put on the Science Channel and wait for the crowd to gather. I don't know if it's a new channel or if we've just discovered it, but my whole family is hooked on it. They have a Canadian show called "How It's Made" that we are totally hooked on. It shows how they make everything from boxed spring mattresses to fireman's helmets. Fascinating stuff - we watch 3 or 4 episodes at a stretch. They'll forget all about the Food Network and they might even learn something (gasp!).

Commercials are the death of me, I am constantly getting the munchies because of them. I think my diet is also going to consist of no TV and only movies (or things recorded and I can fast forward through the commercials).

Also hate the commercials around my little one. Luckily she ignores the TV when it is on most of the time, but I am sure time will change that.

Have you noticed that radio commercials are so bad that the kids can't listen to anything except Radio Disney?? "Go all night!" they scream. "Satisfy her!" and my favorite, "ROCK SOLID!" So.. we can't listen to sports radio anymore!

OMG I know what you mean about those blasted commercials. I have a 7 and 9 year old and the 9 yo is tuned into ALL of it. They even have tampon commercials on NICK. There is also this commercial "talk to your kids about sex". It is kids talking.

I am SO avoiding the "talk" w/my 9 yr old. She keeps on what are tampons and I avoid it like the plaque. "we'll talk about it when no boys are around." I think she even has some of her dolls named from one of those erectile commercials - maybe one of them is Bob I cannot remember but I break my neck sometimes getting to the remote so I can change it they do not need to know why bob is smiling so much!!!

No, it's not just you. Food commercials do come on a lot at night. Advertisers do that on purpose. It is seriously annoying. It is also a good excuse to get Tivo (or a DVR of your choice). That way you can fast-forward through all of those pesky commercials.

Good luck with the diet. It is my experience that husbands and kids are the two biggest reasons that diets fail (at least in my house).

What out for those tampons. One day I could get my two year old out of the bathroom and crisis was about to occur. so, I let him stay. The next day when I went into the restroom while he was suppose to be on the training potty he was trying to insert a tampon. I laughed my head off and did my best to explain why mommy's use tampons and little boys don't. It was truly funny.

Yes,,,,,,,hard to lose weight and I have to be in the right frame of mind. Right now I am 50, dealing with men-O-PAUSE! And I also love to cook/bake. And those pesky food commercials at night drive me nuts!!! I have to close my eyes and put my fingers in my ears and say."NANANANANANAA"!

And I agree with all those stupid commercials. Sitting with my 12 year old and seeing them makes me cringe! I don't get it and wonder why we need them? ED? Herpes? Fem products..........give me a break! We all know where to go to get them and I don't think they are necessary. But how do we get them to stop airing? HMMMMMMMMM>.........Dawn.....you reach A LOT of people! Can we do a petition?

I agree with you on the dieting--you have to find what works for you, not someone else. And yes, advertising companies are doing a very good job of trying to breakdown our willpower during our nighttime TV time. Darn them!

Your comment about having to eat is right on target--its the one thing that people who don't struggle with their weight and condescendingly say "Put down the fork already" just don't understand. For someone with a disfunctional relationship with food (ME!) it just isn't that simple. Oh how I wish it was.

And committment? So true. When I'm really committed I lose weight. Because I know what to do and as long as I can keep focused and stay away from the sabateurs (have a cookie honey!) I do well. I just have such a very long way to go that I get fatigued and give up and then gain it all back.

But I'm trying again. One site I've found that helps me the most of everything else I've ever tried is Sparkpeople.com. Totally free. Lots of great tools and support. For anyone looking for an option to help them live a healthier lifestyle I highly recommend checking it out.

Hi Dawn, I was wondering if you seen the commercial for restless leg syndrome. It says one of the side effects of the drug are eccessive gambling. LOL My husband joked..I could'nt help it hun, my restless leggs took me to the casino! Kristine in Michigan.

I was the one who brought up the Alli. It did work for me, and I didn't have any of those horrible side effects, except for the one time I ate Chinese food. At which point I had some major diarrhea for a few hours. But overall I would highly recommend it and use it again. I actually just found out today that i'm pregnant so I wont be using it again anytime soon lol. Good luck with your diet!

First of all, to your many readers, it's "lose" weight, not "loose" weight!

You're absolutely right--you have to be in the right frame of mind to be able to stick to any diet. When I'm in that frame of mind, I stick to it, no matter what. When I'm not, I blow it by 3 pm every day.

Lastly, my kids watch mostly the Disney channel. One reason I like it is that 99% of the commercials are for Disney's own shows, movies, DVD's, and theme parks, with very little outside advertising. When there is outside advertising, it's something like, "Tonight's movie is sponsored by fruit roll-ups."

You know New Year's Resolutions are really made to be broken. So if you do decide to have that cookie or cake, then it is ok. I mean you just get back on the horse. I have always heard that one mistake will not hurt,anyway.

Hi, One thing that I am doing now wich really helps watching what I eat. Record my exercise and give cheep rewards is to go to The daily plate. I don't have a link just google it. Keep track of caleries and I love it. There is a WW group there too. Good luck.

OH!!! Those commercials drive us crazy!!! With 4 under 10, the DVR has been our main soultion. We don't watch anything live except NickJr and PBS. The big kids know to hit pause when a commercial comes on. Since not watching TV is a little too radical for our family, here's my solution: I'd like to see commercials have a rating system. That way the commercials could be matched to the programming according to content. No more herpes during Jeopardy, Victoria's Secret during Wheel of Fortune, ED during science shows. So who out there has legislative contacts ...

LOL, no kidding Dawn...I too am going to Weight Watchers and the commercial that killed me was when Sonic Drive-In came up with the fantastic idea to serve mac and cheese bites.. Now I LOOOOVE mac and cheese, have since I was a kid and am now in my thirties, but I never came up with the idea to fry it into bite size and sell it. Yes, I did break down and by some to try it... I was right, Sonic is evil incarnate and the mac and cheese bites were pretty darn good. But they've ditched those and are now selling cheesecake bites with cinnamon/caramel dipping sauce, which I am soo not going to buy. Can't even think how many points that would add up to. During those horrible food commercials? get up and do housework, march in place or whatever gets your mind off of them. At least thats what my leader in my WW meetings suggests..Take care, and I know you can do it

I get so frustrated with the commercials while watching with my kids too. I especially notice it during football games. (Who knew that football is not supposed to be watched as a family?!) The really violent film trailers and violent video game commercials really disturb me when my little ones are in the room (3 and 5). I mean, we're trying to teach them NOT to be violent!! Since when is a Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon football game considered "Prime Time" rather than "Family Time" by the TV people!!!

Ugh! I've been 25 days without a cigarette and it's not any easier! LOL Seriously though, I do see your point, at least I don't have to have a cigarette every day to live and then try to quit the rest of the time...I can see how dieting could be really hard when you look at it that way. I despise those commercials too.

Oddly enough some of those shows on Food Network and shows like Top Chef have helped my eating habits. I saw these guys make small portions of really yummy food, involving all of the food groups and still satisfy their judges. I thought to my self... "I imagine that a lot of that food is high calorie, but they're eating like a quarter of what I would!" So I started focusing on good quality foods in smaller quantities and my hubby loves it. We'll go out and buy a $60 roast and make it the way they do on TV and find that there's plenty for several days and it's truly satisfying. Nowadays (even pregnant) I find that I'm kind of addicted to smaller portions instead of bigger portions. So far I'm down 6lbs. Not much, but considering I am pregnant and was quite overweight, it's a reasonable amount for several months of sensible eating. And I still indulge in my Arby's sometimes :-p

Hi! Please don't cringe as I inform you that I am about to tell you about another weight loss idea. Actually, I won't tell you about the whole thing, just the basic idea. You can look into it more if you want. It's called the Weigh Down diet. The first thing that appealed to me is that it doesn't have to cost you anything. If you want to buy the tape set, video, and set of books you can, but you don't really need them! The basic idea is to eat only when you are hungry and to stop when you are full! That's it! You can eat whatever you want, whenever you want, as long as you're hungry! That was really what I liked the most! I can eat whatever I want! If my husband offers me a cookie I can eat, as long as I'm hungry. No counting fat grams, calories, etc. Now this is not to say that they, or I, suggest you eat only nachos(my favorite food and hence the need for a diet plan). They do recommend you eat a normal healthy diet, but they don't tell you to deny yourself something you want unless you're not hungry. You just have to wait until you're hungry. This diet plan is actually based on biblical principles! Anyway, if you want to know more, you can find it easily.

Not only are there commercials designed to make you eat and purchase their products, there are additives in foods, to make you eat and drink more. This whole world is set up to make us unhealthy and overweight. It's an awful cycle.

Hi - long time reader first time commenter. Here is my advice on weight loss - take it how you want. First thing - don't eat after 7 or 8pm - at least 3 hours before you go to sleep. Avoid all soda even the diet stuff. And avoid anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup especially if it is one of the first 4 ingredients. You won't loose a ton of weight but it will help start sheding the pounds with out starving yourself and you are still able to eat what you want. Also cleaning out the pantry of the junk and making your husband eat it or take it work really helps (he is putting on the weight I'm loosing this way)

I just recently lost about 25 lbs using WW but then have plataued the last 3 months even when following the plan religiously (I think my body really likes the weight I'm at). I'm hoping the change in the diet will help re-start my weight loss - I have a cruise coming up in 3 months I need to wear a bathing suit for and I promised my husband I would wear a bikini.

As a med student, diet's aren't what works long-term. You have to actively not buy the junk food to begin with, and then you remove the temptation to eat it at home. Of course, eating until you're satisfied is always the key, especially because "American" serving sizes are gigantic compared to the size of things you should be eating.

I don't know how to help with the commercials...my mom never took us out to fast food when I was under her care, so I never developed a taste for it.

Hey Dawn, As I was sitting here reading the blog again I had a great idea. You need/want motivation for loosing weight.........just think they are going to put your picture on the back of a book for the world to see! I think you look great!! I am so tired of the world thinking that the normal is for your bones to be showing anywhere and everywhere.... it is not doing anything for the young women/girls self esteem. Real women in the real world do not look like this especially after having kids. I can not believe that 2 weeks after having a baby or 2 that they are wearing their size 2 jeans all the while still complaining they have not lost the baby weight. Is this even healthy? HEEELLOOO real world here people. I hope that you reach your weight loss goals but for you and your health only not for anyone else!!!

As for the post that you left today about your daughter's room I agree my kids are lucky the each have their own room (only 2 kids both boys) and a playroom that you can not walk in. I gave up. I do help the 3yo clean his room but only because he is 3. As for the 9yo when he catches something awful maybe he will listen when I get to say I TOLD YOU SO!!!

It is so great that there are real moms out there with messy houses. I have a friend that I have dubbed Mrs. Martha. Her house, yard and everywhere in between is spotless. When my youngest dropped his binky (pacifier) in her grass, picked it up and put it in his mouth she had a fit. I told her that her grass was cleaner than my kitchen floor sometimes (her grass is always clean and she has 2 dogs, but I can't say that about the kitchen floor). She decorates for every holiday major and minor, does all her own yard work (cuts 2 acres,weeds and everything) and is the soccer mom. You know the type she is involved in everything from parties to the book fairs and everywhere in between plus all the after school activities. She is a great person though. I just don't see how she does it all with 2 girls (10 and 11) and 1 boy (15).

Well I am not sure if you read every single post but if you do this one is long enough. It is strange I kind of feel like we are buddies and I am just sending you a note grant it- it is a long note. I guess that is why the get out of hand.

Oh, I just love the fact that my two and a half year old sees an advert on TV for a Happy Meal from Macca's and immediately asks us to take him out for "chip nug"....! Just GREAT... I guess we could just turn off the TV. But that would be like removing a limb around here!

Good luck with the change of eating habits (we don't use the word diet in our household - it's just too demanding!) and please keep us updated on your progress and any other weird and wonderful suggestions to shed unwanted weight ;)

I'm with you on the commercials and since I'm in a cold state there is nothing to do but eat to feel better. It doesn't help when the kids are always saying they're hungry too! It's a vicious cycle and most certainly a conspiracy between the stars with their choice of diet centers, the restaurants and the husbands too. They know you'll be happy with just a box of chocolates! I know I don't get too many dates now since take-home and chocolates come in so many brands of indulgence!!

My 5 year old nephew watched a movie where a girl pretends to be a boy soccer player (I cannot remember the name of the movie). He told my mother in law and sister in law that he knows what tampons are used for. The movie taught him that there are for nosebleeds. You put them in your nose when it is bleeding and they soak up the blood. The string is to pull it out. You could always teach your son that one. JUST KIDDING. You can imagine my mother in law and sister in laws face when they heard that one.

Anyway, I am a fitness instructor and personal trainer and I think weight watchers is great. Take it one day at a time, try to get as much exercise as you can(even if it is small amounts) and be patient. Lots of luck.

My husband and I found something that is really helping us... It is called GoWear fit by Bodymedia.

You wear it on your arm and it tracks all of your exercise (including all those times we don't consider exercising such as going up and down the stairs three times looking for shoes) and your sleep. You upload the information on your computer (you get a subscription to a website) and you enter what you ate to track your calorie (and other things such as fat, carbs, etc) intake. You can then see how many calories you are burning versus how many you are consuming and log that against your goal intake and outtake (it helps you establish that) according to your weightloss goals.

I have found that it is great because it really helps have a better understanding of what I am consuming and makes me think twice before consuming something, knowing that I may not be able to consume something later on or I will need to exercise more later on.

You can get this from two places... 1) www.nuskin.com - It is part of their My Victory program (which we did sign up for - it is also great)2) You can get it from Bodymedia. You will have to go directly to their site (I believe it is www.gowearfit.com or www.bodymedia.com - you can do a google search)

We bought one from each - we signed my husband up for the My Victory program from NuSkin and then I bought the armband for me separately and I am also using the My Victory stuff.

I just have to say that my husband is just as clueless as yours. I too am on a diet and he is constantly asking if I want a Coke while he is at the store. He KNOWS Coke is my Achilles heel but yet he keeps doing it. DO they go to some sort of secret school to learn how to be this senseless??

Ok, so this may not work for everyone, and it is definately short term - but first trimester of pregnancy ought to cure you of the desire to eat every food flashed across the screen :) Of course, you're on your own for the second and third trimesters... and, um, afterwards - but with myself - and wanting to vomit after just reading your mentions of Arby's - I can assure you it may be a viable option for about 8-10 weeks :) ~Kate

Ghirardelli or Godiva (can't remember which) makes a bottled mocha coffee drink, like the one Starbuck's makes. Anyway, I'm standing in the grocery store check-out when I see a 4-ft. stack of boxes full of these chocolaty coffee drinks (now get this) right beside a 4-ft. stack of boxes full of SLIM FAST! My first thought was, "Only in America!"

That's the way commercials are too, u know. In between the weird pharmaceuticals with their bizarre warnings (one of them actually said, "may cause DEATH" - I think that was a depression med!?!) we have the Pizza Hut ad followed immediately by the Nutri-System one! This country is SICK!!

By the way, I gained 5 pounds perusing the Ghirardelli and Godiva sites just searching for the link to the bottled coffee drinks so you could see them. I never found the link, of course. But you will get my slim fast bill in the mail. ;^)